It’s not often that someone can drive in four of the game’s six runs, including an upper deck homer, and not even be in consideration for player of the game. But we saw a prime Jacob deGrom outing, where he set the MLB record for most strikeout in the first four games of the season, as he pitched and hit the Mets to a 6-0 win over the Nationals, snapping a three-game losing streak for the club.
deGrom came into the game with 35 Ks in his first three games and he needed 13 to tie the MLB record, held by Nolan Ryan and Shane Bieber. So, of course deGrom went out and notched 15 strikeouts, establishing a new career-high. Oh yeah, he also threw a two-hit shutout, setting down the last 19 Nats in order.
And if that wasn’t enough, he also had two hits, including an RBI double for the game’s first run.
Those heroics made Brandon Nimmo’s big night an afterthought. All Nimmo did was have three hits, including perhaps the biggest one of the game, a two-run single in the fifth to give deGrom breathing room. He also doubled in the seventh and scored the Mets’ fourth run and hit a two-run homer in the eighth. Nimmo now has a .408/.491/.551 triple slash line.
As impressive as that is, it can’t compare to deGrom’s 0.31 ERA after four starts.
Since the Mets were rained out on Jackie Robinson Day, the teams all wore #42 to honor Robinson. In that vein, since Robinson integrated baseball in 1947, deGrom tied 1997 Pedro Martinez for the 14th-lowest ERA in the first four games of a season, minimum 20 IP.
That nugget courtesy of Baseball-Reference’s new “Span Finder.”
Also, JdG, in going 2 for 4 this game, is batting .545 based on 6 for 11 for the season
His oppoents .ops is .4something. His own is 1.1…
We are witnessing a phenomenon.
Gut Reaction: DeGromintor
I was 12 when Tom Seaver broke in in 1967, and so I got to enjoy a decade of sustained excellence watching him pitch. Funny thing though, I seem to remember taking it for granted as this was the era of (ace) pitchers logging 300+ innings and completing about half (or more) of their starts. It also was the era of deflated offenses which had nearly all teams having at least a couple of stud starters. I was just happy that with Seaver; then Kooseman, then later Matlack; we had our own stable of studs.
While I was duly impressed with Dwight Gooden; especially after enduring the abysmal post “Midnight Massacre” Mets of the late 70s, he would (unfortunately) turn out to be just a flash in the pan for us.
With deGrom though, we are witnessing a true generational talent, and we are blessed to have him. I have found myself these past years, looking forward to his starts; realizing that what he is accomplishing in this era of inflated offenses and tinier ballparks, truly amazing. And even I; and old school fan, geared towards W & Ls, complete games etc., have to admit that just a couple more years of pitching at this level, that Tom Seaver may have to share the mantle of “greatest Met ever”.
Jake was even sharper on this night than usual. I saw maybe three pitches where he missed his intended location. I was afraid he would be pulled after 7, and then the insurance runs were tacked on. I knew they would go to Familia, and Jake did not want to see that.